U.S. patent application number 15/033262 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-29 for headphones.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co., KG. The applicant listed for this patent is Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Andre Grandt, Elmar Stein (ne Schulze).
Application Number | 20160286320 15/033262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52006974 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160286320 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stein (ne Schulze); Elmar ;
et al. |
September 29, 2016 |
HEADPHONES
Abstract
A headphone device comprising a surrounding ear pad and a sound
generator which has a substantially rigid plate and a drive system
for converting electrical signals into mechanical oscillations of
the plate.
Inventors: |
Stein (ne Schulze); Elmar;
(Hannover, DE) ; Grandt; Andre; (Wedemark,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG |
Wedemark |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sennheiser electronic GmbH &
Co., KG
Wedemark
DE
|
Family ID: |
52006974 |
Appl. No.: |
15/033262 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
October 31, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2014/073429 |
371 Date: |
April 29, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 9/00 20130101; H04R
17/00 20130101; H04R 17/005 20130101; H04R 23/02 20130101; H04R
1/1008 20130101; H04R 9/06 20130101; H04R 3/14 20130101; H04R 7/04
20130101; H04R 1/1075 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04R 23/02 20060101
H04R023/02; H04R 1/10 20060101 H04R001/10; H04R 9/06 20060101
H04R009/06; H04R 3/14 20060101 H04R003/14; H04R 17/00 20060101
H04R017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 31, 2013 |
DE |
10 2013 222 231.9 |
Claims
1. A headphone device comprising an ear pad; and a sound generator
comprising: a plate; and a drive system configured to convert
electrical signals into mechanical oscillations of the plate.
2. The headphone device as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising: a flexible portion arranged between the ear pad and the
plate.
3. The headphone device as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising: a piezoelectric film arranged on one side of the plate
for exciting the plate.
4. The headphone device as set forth in claim 1; wherein the drive
system comprises: a magnet system; and a voice coil; wherein the
voice coil is coupled to the plate.
5. The headphone device as set forth in claim 1; wherein the drive
system in the form of a capacitive drive system.
6. The headphone device as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising: a frequency crossover configured to separate input
signals into higher-frequency of lower-frequency signals; wherein
the higher-frequency signals are fed to the piezoelectric film and
the lower-frequency signals are fed to the drive system.
7. The headphone device as set forth in claim 1; wherein the plate
is formed from glass or a transparent material.
8. The headphone device as set forth in claim 1; wherein the drive
system is arranged in the ear pad.
9. A sound transducer comprising: a sound generator comprising: a
substantially rigid plate; and a drive system configured to convert
electrical signals into mechanical oscillations of the plate.
10. The sound transducer as set forth in claim 8, further
comprising: a flexible portion arranged between the plate and a
fixing unit; wherein the flexible portion is in the form of a
corrugation.
Description
[0001] The present application claims priority from International
Patent Application No. PCT/EP2014/073429 filed on Oct. 31, 2014,
which claims priority from German Patent Application No. 10 2013
222 231.9 filed on Oct. 31, 2013, the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is noted that citation or identification of any document
in this application is not an admission that such document is
available as prior art to the present invention.
[0003] The present invention concerns a headphone device, in
particular a headphone or earphone.
[0004] Earphones or headphones have long been known and typically
have a peripherally extending ear pad and a voice coil coupled to a
diaphragm, the voice coil being driven by a magnet system.
[0005] In the German application from which priority is claimed the
German Patent and Trade Mark Office searched the following
documents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,550, U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,198, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,447,678 and WO 00/46786 A2.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved
headphone device which is of a simpler structure.
[0007] Thus there is provided a headphone device having a
surrounding ear pad and a sound generator which has a substantially
rigid plate and a drive system for converting electrical signals
into mechanical oscillations of the (rigid) plate.
[0008] In an aspect of the present invention there is provided a
flexible portion between the ear pad and the (rigid) plate. The
flexible portion can provide for decoupling between the plate and
the ear pad so that the emission characteristic of the plate can be
improved.
[0009] In a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a piezoelectric film on one side of the plate for exciting
the plate. Thus, in addition to the drive system which for example
can be provided in the ear pad, there is provided a further
possible option for exciting the plate. In that way it is possible
to implement a 2-way transducer.
[0010] In a further aspect of the present invention the drive
system has a magnet system and a voice coil, the voice coil being
coupled to the plate.
[0011] In a further aspect of the present invention the drive
system is in the form of a capacitive drive system.
[0012] In a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a frequency crossover for separating the input audio
signals into higher-frequency or lower-frequency signals. The
higher-frequency signals are fed to the piezoelectric film and the
lower-frequency signals are fed to the drive system so that the
higher-frequency signals are transmitted to the plate by way of the
piezoelectric film and the lower-frequency signals are transmitted
to the plate by way of the drive system. The invention concerns a
notion of providing a headphone device having a surrounding ear pad
and a sound generator. The sound generator has a substantially
rigid plate and a drive system for converting electrical signals
into mechanical oscillations of the plate. The drive system is
provided in the ear pad or integrated therein. The ear pad is
connected directly or indirectly to the plate.
[0013] In an aspect of the present invention provided between the
ear pad and the plate is an at least partially peripherally
extending portion which is highly flexible or very flexible so that
mobility of the plate can be increased.
[0014] In a further aspect of the present invention provided on a
first side of the plate (which is towards the ear pad) is a
piezoelectric film adapted to reproduce higher frequencies.
[0015] In a further aspect of the present invention the cables for
the magnet system and the like are laid in the ear pad.
[0016] In an aspect of the present invention the plate has at least
partially glass and is at least partially transparent.
[0017] In a further aspect of the present invention the drive
system of the sound generator is provided in the ear pad.
[0018] According to the invention an ear cup of a headphone or
earphone is formed from the plate and the ear pad.
[0019] In an aspect of the invention the headphone device has a
frequency crossover to pass low frequencies to the drive system and
high frequencies to the piezoelectric drive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a headphone
device according to a first embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a headphone
device according to a second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0022] It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of
the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements
that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present
invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other
elements which are conventional in this art. Those of ordinary
skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable
for implementing the present invention. However, because such
elements are well known in the art, and because they do not
facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a
discussion of such elements is not provided herein.
[0023] The present invention will now be described in detail on the
basis of exemplary embodiments.
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a headphone
device according to a first embodiment. The headphone device 100
has a plate 110 and a surrounding ear pad 120 connected directly or
indirectly to the plate 110. The headphone device 100 according to
the first embodiment is in the form of an electrodynamic headphone
device and has a magnet system 130 as well as a voice coil 140 as
the drive system 105.
[0025] Optionally a flexible portion 150 can be provided between
the ear pad 120 and the plate 110. The voice coil 140 is coupled
directly or indirectly to the plate 110 and excites the plate 110
to produce mechanical oscillations so that the plate 110 outputs an
audio signal. The magnet system 130 and the voice coil 140 can be
coupled by way of a cable within the ear pad to a feed cable of the
headphone device, which in turn has a plug by way of which the
audio signals to be reproduced can be received as electrical
signals, wherein the audio signals are fed to the headphone device
by way of the cable so that the audio signal can be reproduced by
way of the drive system.
[0026] The provision of a flexible portion 150 between the ear pad
120 and the plate 110 is advantageous because that can increase the
mobility of the plate 110 whereby improved sound delivery can be
achieved.
[0027] According to the invention the plate 110 can be made from
glass or another transparent material.
[0028] According to the first embodiment at least one
electrodynamic drive having a magnet system 130 and a voice coil
140 is provided in the pad 120. According to the invention however
more than just one electrodynamic drive can also be provided.
According to the invention the plate 110 which for example is made
of glass can emit for example a low-frequency sound (up to about 1
kHz). If the flexible portion 150 is provided between the ear pad
120 and the plate 110 the plate can also emit higher
frequencies.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a headphone
device according to a second embodiment. The headphone device of
the second embodiment substantially corresponds to the headphone
device of the first embodiment. The difference between the
headphone device of the first and second embodiments is that
provided on the side of the plate 110, that is towards the ear, is
a piezoelectric film 160 which can be actuated with the
higher-frequency audio signals to deliver a higher-frequency audio
signal. In that way the headphone device according to the second
embodiment can be in the form of a two-way transducer, wherein the
drive system (with the magnet system 130 and the voice coil 140) in
the ear pad can deliver lower-frequency audio signals.
[0030] According to the invention the cables for the magnet system
can optionally be laid within the ear pad.
[0031] According to the invention the plate 110 is optionally in
the form of a glass plate. The piezoelectric film 160 can also
optionally be transparent so that an ear of a user remains visible
when wearing the headphone device according to the invention.
[0032] According to the invention the necessary cables can be
integrated in the ear pad. That can be made possible for example by
injection molding of the cable therein.
[0033] According to the invention the headphone device or the ear
cup of a headphone device comprises only a (transparent) plate 110
and a surrounding ear pad 120 fitted thereto. The drive system for
the plate 110 is provided in the ear pad 120. Thus only the plate
and the ear pad are visible from the exterior.
[0034] The drive system 105 of a headphone device according to a
third embodiment can be in the form of a capacitive drive system
(with a counterpart electrode).
[0035] The headphone device according to the invention has a
surrounding pad and a sound generator, wherein the sound generator
has a substantially rigid plate and a drive system which is
arranged in the ear pad. The plate lies on the ear pad.
[0036] According to a third embodiment the invention concerns a
loudspeaker or sound generator having a rigid plate 110 and a drive
system 105 for converting electrical signals into mechanical
oscillations of the plate 110. Optionally a flexible portion or an
elastic carrier or a flexible element 150 can be provided between
the plate 110 and a fixing means of the plate. Thus according to
the invention there is provided a sound transducer having a
substantially rigid plate 110 and an at least partially surrounding
drive system 105 for converting electrical signals into mechanical
oscillations of the plate 110. According to the third embodiment
the sound transducer has a corrugation which is coupled to a fixing
means by way of an elastic carrier or a flexible holding unit.
[0037] While this invention has been described in conjunction with
the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many
alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of
the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative,
not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following
claims.
* * * * *